Remembrance Day parade will go ahead in Kendal

With help from residents in South Lakeland the Remembrance Day Parade is coming back for another year

WAR veterans and uniformed organisations will be able to march through the heart of Kendal after an about face by organisers of a Remembrance Day event.

For decades the parade from the town's war memorial to the parish church has been an integral part of the solemn events to commemorate the fallen in conflicts around the world on November 11.

But the parade, which is watched by hundreds of onlookers each year, was set to be cancelled by the Royal British Legion and Kendal Town Council.

The decision sparked outrage and a petition was launched to bring back the parade, which was signed by hundreds of people.

Now after talks between campaigners, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, the town council and the Royal British Legion, a shortened parade will be held through Kendal on Remembrance Day.

"This is just brilliant," said Steve Paton, of Oxenholme, who launched the petition after being "disgusted" that the historic ceremony was being cancelled. "It just shows how some power from the people can make a big difference.

"I am so very glad that something positive has come out of it."

To mark the 100th anniversary of Armistice Day, the town council and the Kendal branch of the Royal British Legion decided to alter arrangements to fit in with what was happening nationally. Along with other towns and cities across the country there is to be an evening service at 6.15pm when church bells will ring out in unison.

It was decided that this year there would be a wreath laying ceremony, along with a two minute silence and service at the war memorial, but no parade to the parish church.

Now there will be a parade to the town hall featuring war veterans, uniformed organisations and civic dignitaries.

"For many people in Kendal who have contacted me in the past couple of weeks, the parade is a special part of the commemorations," said Mr Farron. "That's why I was determined to make sure a parade went ahead."

The Gazette highlighted the upset after being contacted by former RAF navigator John Hodgson, 81, who was worried that it could have been his last chance to process through the town with his comrades as he has terminal cancer.

But Mr Hodgson is not entirely happy with the new arrangements and said: "It's great that a parade is back, but it's not the same parade. I still don't understand why we can't go to the church."

Cecil McComb, Poppy Appeal Organiser for the Kendal branch of the Royal British Legion, said that many people had got "the wrong end of the stick" and were under the impression that Remembrance Day itself was going to be cancelled. He said there had been many negative comments on social media.

"We simply wanted to do something special this year to mark the 100th anniversary and our programme had no room for the parade," he said. "Since everything was going to happen around the war memorial, we did not think there needed to be a march to the church."

Kendal Town Council clerk Liz Richardson said: "Following comments from a few members of the public regarding the parade element of the usual Remembrance Sunday not being part of the arrangements this year, we were happy to look again at this element. All parties - the Royal British Legion, Kendal Parish Church, Cumbria Constabulary and ourselves - met to discuss options last week."

The Mayor of Kendal, Cllr Guy Tirvengadum, said: “We have listened to the concerns from some members of the public and I am happy that we have achieved a suitable compromise which will allow everyone in Kendal to feel part of this special event. Now that we are having a parade it would be great if we could all unite and support this memorable occasion.”

Ipsoregulated

This website and associated newspapers adhere to the Independent Press Standards Organisation's Editors' Code of Practice. If you have a complaint about the editorial content which relates to inaccuracy or intrusion, then please contact the editor here. If you are dissatisfied with the response provided you can contact IPSO here